Folding shipping-crate.



W. M. DIGHT.

FOLDING SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1913.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS Tc-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c

WILLIAM: MILLER EIGHT; 0F GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

EOLEINQ $LH P NG:QB1ATE.

anaemia; of Letters-Re e t- Patented Mar. 16, 1 915.

pizl eefie l d 4mm. .13.- ee! ve-rewa- To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, WILLIAM M. DIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residingat Grove City, in the county of Mercer and State of ennsy ania, haveinven ed certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Shipping-Crates,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in foldingshipping crates designed for use in holding any class of transportablearticles.

The object of this invention is the provision of a folding crate of theclass described which when extended will be firmly held in suchposition, and which when folded will form a compact body, requiring butlittle space for storing or shipping purposes, While the same is in itssaid folded position.

A further object of this invention is to improve and simplify devices ofthis nature, rendering them comparatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, reliable and efficient in use, and readily operated.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention resides in thenovel features of construction, formations, combinations andarrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimedand illus trated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view thereof, showing the crate in its folded position. Fig. 3is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.Fig. 4: is a detail, sectional view illustrating one of the latches, andFig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by similar characters ofreference, the numeral 10 designates generally my improved shippingcrate, which comprises a bottom 11 to the opposite edges of which aresecured the vertical longitudinal side members 12 and 13 and thevertical transverse end members 14 and 15 each of which has securedthereto by the hinges 16, 17, 18 and 19, one of the extension sidemembers 20 and 21 and extension end members 22 and 23. These saidextension end members 22 and 23 have hinged to their upper edges, topclosures 2a and 25. The inner edges of the closures 24 and 25 areoverlapped and cut away as at 26 so that their upper faces will lieflush. The lower closure 25 is provided with a vertical staple 27arranged to pass through a slot 28 in the opposite or upper closure'2tand any suitable fastening evice such as shown at 29 is inserted throughthe staple to hold the said closure against opening.- i U he inner facesof the extension side members 20 and 21 are grooved as at 30 at theiropposite ends, while passing over these grooves are straps 31 which havetheir ends extended through openings 32 formed in the said members 20and 21 and bent against the outer sides thereof to hold the straps 31against displacement. These straps 31 serve the purpose of catches toengage the spring latches 33 carried by the extension end members 22 and23. These said end members are notched as at 34 adjacent the latches 33so that by the insertion of a suitable instrument therethrough, thelatches 33 can be dis engaged from the catches and the crate folded.

The crate is folded as follows: The latches 33 are first released andthe end extension 23 and closure 25 folded inwardly after which the endextension 22 and top closure 24 are then folded upon the extension 23and top closure 25. The side extension 21 is then folded upon theextension 22 and top closure 24: and side extension 20 is then foldedupon the opposite side extension 21. It should be noted in thisconnection that the side member 12 is higher than the member 13 so thatthe parts will all lie in horizontal and compact relative position.

The crate is braced by bars 35 which are beveled at their inner ends asat 36 to permit the crate to be folded in the previously describedmanner. The crate is further braced by the corner plats 37 as clearlyshown in the drawings.

A plurality of folding partitions 38 such as those used in egg cratesare disposed within the crate 10 and when the latter is folded thesepartitions can also be folded and placed within the crate, acting as asupport for the folded parts. It should be understood in this connectionthat various minor changes in the specific details of construction canbe resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departingfrom or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

From the foregoing disclosures taken in connection with the accompanyingdraw ings it will be manifest that a crate of the nature described isprovided which will ful- 11 all of the necessary requirements of such adevice.

Having thus fully described this invention, what I claim as new anddesire to pro tect by Letters Patent is:

In a crate such as described, a plurality of folding side and endmembers, grooves provided in the said side members, straps passing overthe said grooves, said side members having openings provided thereinadjacent the grooves, the ends of the said straps passing through theopenings and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,by addressing the bent against the opposite sides of the side members,and spring latches carried by the end members and adapted to extend intothe grooves for engagement with the straps,

' said end members having notches formed therein adjacent the straps, asand for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence'o'f two witnesses.

WILLIAM MILLER DIGHT. IVitnesses:

O. W. TUsHER, M. O; ROBINS.

Commissioner 0! Patents,

Washington, D. G.

